24/7 Wall St. Insights
- Over 70 million people fought in World War II, often with a desire to protect their country and make their country proud.
- World War II didn’t just kill people on the battlefield, but had a significant impact on millions upon millions of civilian deaths through dehydration and starvation and widespread violence.
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In the 1920s and 1930s, two strong alliances were developed and reaffirmed: the Anglo-Polish Alliance between Poland and Great Britain, and the Franco-Anglo Alliance between Poland and France. These alliances sought to be protective against increasing German aggression and German attempts at territorial expansion. So when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, both Great Britain and France declared war on Germany in the next few days, catalyzing the Second World War. World War II was a crucial moment in history and reshaped the way we live, and the way governments lead, today. (Check out the most important events of World War II.)
Looking back on World War II today showcases the sheer devastation of the time period. Hundreds of millions of citizens went off to war, ready to proudly fight for their country and for the equity of its people. Yet hundreds of millions of citizens did not come home after the war because of the violence. The horrors of the war were not confined to the battlefields, either. Many individuals found themselves killed in local or area violence, or bombing. Those who weren’t subjected to immediate death often ran out of resources and starved, lived in areas that were filty and unclean, or experienced traumas at the hands of soldiers passing through. In the end, the war managed to shift which countries were in power and the peace has been upheld mostly since then, though several countries are still fighting their own wars. (This World War II battle had the most soldiers, and it’s not even close.)
Here 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the casualties from World War II. To identify the countries with the most casualties and injuries associated with World War II, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed WWII casualty statistics from World War 2 Facts, an online database of WWII battles. We ranked countries based on total casualties. We included supplemental information regarding military deaths for each country as well as civilian deaths.
Why Are We Covering World War II?
World War II was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history with unprecedented casualties. This war established the geopolitical situation the world is in today. Understanding how these countries were impacted by World War II and the casualties that resulted from it helps people to remember history, as well as helps them understand why alliances are the way they are now.
Here are the countries with the most casualties in World War II:
27. Denmark
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 3,200
- Civilian Deaths: 1,100
- Military Deaths: 2,100
26. Norway
- Total casualties: 9,500
- Civilian Deaths: 6,500
- Military Deaths: 3,000
25. New Zealand
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 11,900
- Civilian Deaths: 0
- Military Deaths: 11,900
24. South Africa
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 11,900
- Civilian Deaths: 0
- Military Deaths: 11,900
23. Spain
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 14,500
- Civilian Deaths: 10,000
- Military Deaths: 4,500
22. Bulgaria
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 25,000
- Civilian Deaths: 3,000
- Military Deaths: 22,000
21. Australia
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 40,500
- Civilian Deaths: 700
- Military Deaths: 39,800
20. Canada
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 45,300
- Civilian Deaths: 0
- Military Deaths: 45,300
19. Belgium
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 86,100
- Civilian Deaths: 74,000
- Military Deaths: 12,100
18. Finland
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 97,000
- Civilian Deaths: 2,000
- Military Deaths: 95,000
17. Netherlands
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 301,000
- Civilian Deaths: 176,000
- Military Deaths: 21,000
16. Czechoslovakia
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 345,000
- Civilian Deaths: 320,000
- Military Deaths: 25,000
15. Austria
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 384,700
- Civilian Deaths: 123,700
- Military Deaths: 261,000
14. United States
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 418,500
- Civilian Deaths: 1,700
- Military Deaths: 416,800
13. Great Britain
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 449,800
- Civilian Deaths: 67,100
- Military Deaths: 382,700
12. Italy
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 456,000
- Civilian Deaths: 145,100
- Military Deaths: 300,000
- Estimated Casualties of Africans Conscripted to Fight: 20,000
11. Greece
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 560,000
- Civilian Deaths: 500,000
- Military Deaths: 35,000
10. France
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 600,000
- Civilian Deaths: 210,000
- Military Deaths: 390,000
9. Hungary
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 580,000
- Civilian Deaths: 280,000
- Military Deaths: 300,000
8. Romania
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 500,000
- Civilian Deaths: 200,000
- Military Deaths: 300,000
7. Yugoslavia
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 1,200,000
- Civilian Deaths: 754,000
- Military Deaths: 446,000
6. India
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 2,087,000
- Civilian Deaths: 2,000,000
- Military Deaths: 87,000
5. Japan
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 2,700,000
- Civilian Deaths: 580,000
- Military Deaths: 2,120,000
4. Poland
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 5,700,000
- Civilian Deaths: 2,400,000
- Military Deaths: 240,000
3. Germany
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 7,720,800
- Civilian Deaths: 2,035,000
- Military Deaths: 5,533,000
2. China
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 15,000,000
- Civilian Deaths: 11,500,000
- Military Deaths: 3,500,000
1. Soviet Union
- Total deaths and injuries during WWII: 27,700,000
- Civilian Deaths: 19,00,000
- Military Deaths: 8,700,000
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